The Life & Times of AVMA Student Externs in Our Nation's Capital

Government Agencies

Although I had to arrive two days late to the AVMA-GRD externship, participating in the 2015 Smith-Kilborne (SK) Program was a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience public veterinary medicine in full force and to visit both the USDA’s facilities in Riverdale, Maryland, and in Plum Island, NY. The program selects one veterinary student from each school in [...]

At this point I’ve been in DC about two weeks, and am settling into a little routine- or at least getting used to the lack thereof. Congress was on recess, so getting started has been a little bit slow, but it’s given me a good chance to meet a lot of vets around town and [...]

My extern-mate Anita has dutifully attended the blog until now and I am eternally grateful. Thank you, Anita! Rather than revisit material already covered, I thought it would be more meaningful to share some recurring themes that I’ve identified during our adventures in the nation’s capitol. It’s really difficult to exact change in Washington. Many [...]

Innovation is a bipartisan effort allowing us as a nation to come up with new ideas, new products, and new discoveries. The main question we need to ask ourselves is not a financial one, but rather is “Are we running an innovation deficit?” and “Could we be capping our innovation growth as a nation? Kevin [...]

Deftly we all spin them: willingly, wittingly, and for a distinct purpose. Through each conversation they either expand, strengthen, become more intricate, or can fragment, fray, and weaken. Being in DC puts Tabitha and my spinning strategies to the test, and thankfully due to preparation, amiable personalities, and the proper introductory paths, the layers of [...]

Asking a veterinarian (or vet student) to pick a favorite species is like asking a parent to pick a favorite child. But I do have to admit to a little bit of favoritism here- I adore African megafauna, particularly elephants and rhinos. So I was pretty excited to attend a briefing sponsored by Senator Coons [...]

Upon our arrival in D.C., the GRD staff handed Allie and I a 16-page document listing many of the D.C. area veterinarians working in federal government agencies. 16 pages! Our assignment: to meet with these individuals and learn about their role within their agency and how that impacts our nation’s biosecurity, research, grant distribution, education, [...]

Earlier this week I attended an Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, led by Chairman Robert Aderholt, R-AL 4th District with primary witness Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture. I don’t consider myself particularly economically inclined. Reading about the rise and fall of the stock market leaves me with more [...]

Tomorrow is my last day. Naturally I started reviewing the last 4 weeks with the AVMA-GRD externship, and I always like the exercise of looking at the numbers: 20 – weekdays of service 24 – veterinarians I met who were in federal agencies, interest organizations, fellowships, universities, and/or think tanks 2 – giant pandas seen [...]

I wish every vet student could experience these four weeks in D.C. I am extremely grateful to be able to participate in this externship, as I have come in contact with some very cool people! Everyone seems very willing to talk to impressionable young vet students. On Thursday, Zach and I visited the FDA Center [...]